COO

We are honored to have successfully completed this engagement. A GLDN opportunity.

There are some job openings for which I know – I just know – that at least a few of you are going to stop in your tracks and either say, “ This is my dream job – I can’ t believe it actually exists,” or, “ Whoa – I know exactly the person for that one.”

This, my friends, is one of those job openings. It’ s not for everybody, not by a long shot, but it’ s gonna be perfect for somebody – maybe for quite a few of you somebodies.

All right, enough preliminaries: GLDN (pronounced “ golden”) is a startup that makes beautiful, stylish handmade jewelry. It’ s based in the cute-as-artisanal-nails bayside hamlet of La Conner, Washington. It’ s looking for a Chief Operating Officer who can be an effective partner for a highly collaborative CEO and a tremendously motivated workforce.

The ideal candidate for this role is someone who is very comfortable in a highly customer-centered creative environment. GLDN prides itself on its uniquely personal approach to jewelry – their works are handmade, and offer intricate customization for the individual wearer. The whole operation is a fascinating blend of timeless craft traditions and very modern approaches to technology and retail marketing.

In my totally unbiased opinion, I think their stuff is gorgeous – and that their founder and CEO, Chrissy Lavdovsky, is simply terrific. When asked to summarize GLDN’ s approach, Chrissy said this:

“ There are some things we believe you shouldn’ t have to choose between: style or ethical production; price or quality. We believe you can have it all. Our promise is goodness. Consciously made pieces you can be proud to wear, made by good humans who are passionate about changing the world, one piece of jewelry at a time.”

I love this kind of energy and vision in an entrepreneur. What Chrissy and her company are looking for is a strategic thinker who can drive the brand and the business to the next level, adding a bit more structure and systematic rigor while fully maintaining the aesthetic and ethical values that make GLDN special in the first place.

The ideal candidate would have a strong understanding of business-intelligence analytics, production technology, and the hands-on crafting of physical goods. A robust track record (15+ years) of success in an operational or business leadership role would be a major plus, especially if that experience is in the realms of light manufacturing, e-commerce, retail, fashion, or other highly creative industries.

Like I said, this job is going to be somebody’ s perfect perch – if you or someone you know has strong executive skills and a keen appreciation for creative products and work cultures, this deserves a serious look. GLDN is growing; I’ ll have more announcements for them coming soon. What they need is someone who can help guide that growth. That someone is out there; got any ideas?

PS From PSP: While GLDN is based in La Conner, it’ s willing to be a bit flexible with regard to accommodating the needs of people who might live in other parts of the Greater Seattle Area. Which raises an increasingly relevant point: As our region continues to grow, and as real-estate costs and congestion increase, how are employers and employees adjusting to maximize their opportunities? What does it mean for our urban core, and for other areas that were once considered remote? Readers, how has the changing economic geography of the metro area changed the way you work, commute, and retain talent?